Relief Library and Information Advisor

Job Description

Suffolk County Council

Salary: £13.05 per hour

Hours: No guaranteed hours. As and when required

Contract: Casual basis

Locations as below:

• Post 1: Relief Library and Information Advisor – Woodbridge and Saxmundham: New St, Woodbridge IP12 1DT; County Offices, Street Farm Road, Saxmundham IP17 1AL – (1 post – lone working)
• Post 2: Relief Library and Information Advisor – Mildenhall/Newmarket/Brandon: Mildenhall Hub, Sheldrick Way, Mildenhall, IP28 7JX; 1a the Guineas, Newmarket, CB8 8EQ; Bury Road, Brandon, IP27 0BQ – (2 posts – Lone working)
• Post 3: Relief Library and Information Advisor – Bungay/Halesworth/Beccles: Wharton Street, Bungay, NR35 1EL; Bridge Street, Halesworth, IP19 8AD; Blyburgate, Beccles, NR34 9TB – (1 post – lone working)
• Post 4: Relief Library and Information Advisor – Gainsborough/Chantry/Kesgrave: Clapgate Lane, Ipswich, IP3 0RL; Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich, IP2 0QY; Kinsey House, Kays Close, Kesgrave, IP5 2HL – (1 post – lone working)
• Post 5: Relief Library and Information Advisor – Bury St. Edmunds/Ixworth/Moreton Hall: Sergeants Walk, St Andrews Street North, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1TZ; Village Hall, High Street, Ixworth, IP31 2HH; Moreton Hall Community Centre, Symonds Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 7EE – (1 post – lone working)
• Post 6: Relief Library and Information Advisor – Felixstowe/Capel St. Mary: Crescent Road, Felixstowe, IP11 7BY; Village Hall, The Street, Capel St Mary, IP9 2EF – (1 post – lone working)
• Post 7: Relief Library and Information Advisor – Southwold/Aldeburgh/Leiston: Old Hospital Hub, Field Stile Road, Southwold, IP18 6LD; Victoria Road, Aldeburgh, IP15 5EG; Old Post Office Square, Main Street, Leiston, IP16 4ER – (1 post – Lone working)

There may be the need for you to work in other libraries not listed above.

At Suffolk County Council we’re passionate about improving the future for our customers, our communities and the environment. If you are too, join us as a Relief Library and Information Advisor and make a huge and meaningful impact. Your innovation and drive will help us to continue improving and evolving. Our opportunities and support will enable you to make a difference and leave a positive, lasting legacy. Reimagine the possibilities.

Your Role And Responsibilities

As a Library and Information Advisor, you’ll be at the heart of your local community, helping people of all ages access the services, support and inspiration that libraries offer.

On a typical day, you might:

• Deliver excellent customer service to a wide range of visitors, including children, families and older adults.
• Support customers with using library services, from borrowing books to navigating digital resources.
• Run and support activities such as children’s story time, crafts, and community events.
• Help customers with IT queries, including using mobile devices, email, and social media.
• Work closely with volunteers and community groups to raise the library’s profile and deliver outreach services.
• Carry out core library tasks such as shelving, stock management, taking payments, and creating displays.

This is a physically active role that involves bending and lifting.

You will need

• Can deliver great customer service to people of all ages.
• Communicates effectively and builds positive, supportive relationships with customers, colleagues, and the wider community.
• Is confident engaging with young people and enthusiastic about delivering activities like children’s crafts and story sessions.
• Is IT literate and comfortable using the internet, social media, email, mobile devices and apps—and can guide others in using them too.
• Works well as part of a team and is happy to support colleagues.
• Is willing to learn and carry out the full range of library procedures, including shelving, lending, self-service support, taking payments, stock work, displays, and rearranging the library space when needed.

If you’ve worked in a customer-facing role, enjoy helping people, and have experience working with children, we’d love to hear from you. An interest in books and computers is a big plus.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (Word). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don\’t meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

You’ll be joining a friendly, supportive team that’s passionate about making the library a welcoming and inclusive space for everyone. We work closely with volunteers, community groups, and schools to deliver a wide range of services and events. Our team values collaboration, creativity, and a shared commitment to helping people thrive.

Empowering Everyone

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

For an informal discussion, please contact:

• For post 1 – Helen Scrivener at helen.scrivener@suffolk.gov.uk or Amanda King at amanda.king@suffolk.gov.uk
• For post 2 – Amanda King at amanda.king@suffolk.gov.uk or Sharon Chapman at sharon.chapman2@suffolk.gov.uk
• For post 3 – Amanda King at amanda.king@suffolk.gov.uk or Sharon Chapman at sharon.chapman2@suffolk.gov.uk
• For post 4 – Mandy Grimwood at Mandy.Grimwood@suffolk.gov.uk or Maggie Lusher at maggie.lusher@suffolk.gov.uk
• For post 5 – Charmain Osborne at Charmain.Osborne@suffolk.gov.uk or Mandy Grimwood at Mandy.Grimwood@suffolk.gov.uk
• For post 6 – Maggie Lusher at maggie.lusher@suffolk.gov.uk or Charmain Osborne at Charmain.Osborne@suffolk.gov.uk
• For post 7 – Helen Scrivener at helen.scrivener@suffolk.gov.uk or Charlotte Clark at Charlotte.Clark@suffolk.gov.uk

How To Apply

1. Step 1 – Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (Word).
2. Step 2 – Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
3. Step 3 – Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template .
   • Give an example of an activity or event you’ve run or supported for children. What did you do to keep them engaged?
   • Describe a time when you helped someone use technology or digital services. What challenges did they face and how did you support them?
   • Can you share an experience where you had to deal with a difficult customer or situation? How did you maintain professionalism and resolve the issue?
   • Describe a time when you had to work alone and manage multiple tasks. How did you prioritise your workload and ensure all responsibilities were met?
4. Step 4 – Upload a CV (without name and personal details).

Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 12 November 2025.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

About Us

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you’ll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more! If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).